Update since surgery 4/23/10** I am sore and scared again full of sad emotions?

gobluegirl90
gobluegirl90 Member Posts: 53
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had breast biopsy 4/7/10,on 4/15/10 MRI, then on 4/20/10 I had SONO node biopsy in office and DR hit my rib cage...OUCH (least it was not my lung)which was all NODE Neg.Then Blue dye breast injections on 4/22/10 and then on 4/23/10 I had surgery...lumpectomy and 2 nodes removed in armpit. Dr called on 4/27/10 (Our 19th Wedding Anniversary) with results that they got "clear margins, and both nodes were negative. Tumor size was 1.1cm by .07cm. StageI no nodes, brac I and II are negative, but I am triple neg. /grade III. (should I have had a bi=lateral mastectomy?)
I am going to my first post op appointment in the morning, and get my appointments with my Medical Oncologist & Radiation Oncologist to get my treatments going. They are saying i will be getting chemo and rads and will be inserting a port? It is normal for me to be so sore still in my armpit and breast?
So how soon will my Chemo start? Any ball park ideas, ladies? I am getting scared again and find myself crying and sad worrying about the next 6 to 9 months during treatments? I had to start taking my Zanaxx more often..He's my BFF right now, my get up and go juice. lol Ironic since it makes you sleepy. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • Aortus
    Aortus Member Posts: 967
    #2
    Free advice
    Since my beloved Moopy had a modified radical mastectomy, I realize it's not a direct comparison, but yeah, I think it's normal to feel sore where the surgery occurred. It's also normal to worry about the next 6 to 9 months' worth of treatments... not to mention what comes after.

    The port is really no big deal. Even though Moopy's lung got nicked during the insertion surgery and collapsed on her three days later, she was glad to have it. I think Moopster started chemo six weeks after surgery - she herself was getting impatient to start, but the surgeon would not take the drains out until HE was ready.

    Hope your meeting goes well, and please come back to report!

    Best,
    Joe
  • NancyJane4
    NancyJane4 Member Posts: 14
    #3
    Update since surgery 4/23/10 ** I am sore and scared again full-
    Hi, I had bc 10 years ago. I was 31. I had a 2cm tumor. Out of 12 lymph nodes, one was positive. I had my right breast removed on September 8th, 1999 and chemo started on October 25th. Under my arms was tender for a few weeks. I was very scared, but it does get better.

    Try not to think about all the chemo treatments all at onnce. Take each treatment separately. I know it is hard right now, your on a roller coaster of emotions. Take each day, one day at a time. You WILL get through this. Try to be positive and Try to be thankful that your breast cancer was found. Each day you have is a gift. :-).

    I only had one breast removed, I wear a fake "boob" and no one can tell. I can't advise you on having both removed or not. My suggestion is to talke to your doctor and get their thoughts. I only had one breast removed beacuse I hated surgery, and the side effects.

    There is Life After Going Through Breast Cancer.
  • Hubby
    Hubby Member Posts: 325
    #4
    My Wife is Still Sore Too
    She has had a very similar course to yours; Surgery was on April 20th; BRCA neg; 1.1 cm; two nodes neg; clear margins; trip neg (although pathology from biopsy showed er +). At her follow-up appointment on Friday, her surgeon drained a little fluid from under her arm which seemed to help her pain. She also got them to let her take ibuprofen instead of Tylenol which also helped. She's also doing a lot of crying and taking xanex.

    Everything I've read says that the survival rate is the same for masectamy vs. lumpectamy, what is different is the recurrence rate. I think my wife made the right emotional choice for herself, even though at the time we thought she was er +; I don't think she would have opted for the masectamy if we had an initial trip negative. I think your doctors recommended the best thing to you based on your condition; try not to dwell on second guessing their medical advice (easier said then done). I also read that BRCA positive woman tend to be trip neg as well as African American woman. I think this may skew the statistics for all trip neg woman. The BRCA gene increases the risk of reuccurance, and minority woman as a group don't get the same quality of health care. Also, the statistics are for all stages; you and my wife were stage 1.

    Does this make sense to anyone besides me?
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
    #5
    Hubby said:

    My Wife is Still Sore Too
    She has had a very similar course to yours; Surgery was on April 20th; BRCA neg; 1.1 cm; two nodes neg; clear margins; trip neg (although pathology from biopsy showed er +). At her follow-up appointment on Friday, her surgeon drained a little fluid from under her arm which seemed to help her pain. She also got them to let her take ibuprofen instead of Tylenol which also helped. She's also doing a lot of crying and taking xanex.

    Everything I've read says that the survival rate is the same for masectamy vs. lumpectamy, what is different is the recurrence rate. I think my wife made the right emotional choice for herself, even though at the time we thought she was er +; I don't think she would have opted for the masectamy if we had an initial trip negative. I think your doctors recommended the best thing to you based on your condition; try not to dwell on second guessing their medical advice (easier said then done). I also read that BRCA positive woman tend to be trip neg as well as African American woman. I think this may skew the statistics for all trip neg woman. The BRCA gene increases the risk of reuccurance, and minority woman as a group don't get the same quality of health care. Also, the statistics are for all stages; you and my wife were stage 1.

    Does this make sense to anyone besides me?

    My surgeon said the survival
    My surgeon said the survival rate was the same for mastectomy vs. lumpectomy with radiation. I went for the lumpectomy. Mine was 2+cm, triple+, stage 1C, grade 3, clear nodes. To quote my oncol. "we're looking at a full cure" when done with all the treatments. You have to trust your medical team and can't second guess them. My arm and breast is still sore and my surgeries (I had to have a second to get clear margins) was last June. I was told it takes 1 year from the end of treatment to get back to "normal". I laughed and said you mean I'll be normal after this??? lol! Take one treatment at a time, don't think about what happens next just deal with now. I put all the info about radiation away until I was done with chemo then pulled it out to educate myself on what to expect.

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